Easy and Delicious Mediterranean Rice Recipe
Try this Mediterranean rice recipe, a quick and easy dish with fresh herbs and zesty lemon that pairs perfectly with meat, fish, or on its own. Ready in 40 minutes!
Paired this lovely, fragrant rice dish with seared salmon steaks and garlicky greens tonight. This was absolute heaven!
- Rachel
Recipe Summary
- ✅ Recipe Name: Mediterranean Rice
- 🕒 Prep Time: 15 minutes prep time, 25 minutes cook time
- 🧑🧒🧒 Serves: 2 people
- 🍽️ Calories: 509 kcal
- 🥣 Ingredients: Rice, onion, garlic, oregano, thyme, cumin, lemon zest & juice, salt & pepper, water, olive oil
- 👏 Why You'll Love It: Quick, rich in carbs, gluten-free, pairs well with fish or chicken.
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Are you ready to embark on a culinary journey to the Mediterranean? I ALWAYS am! My love for the Mediterranean started in my childhood. My parents and I often vacationed in Greece, and Greece has the most beautiful beaches I have seen.
If someone gave me a winning lottery ticket and said to pick one country to live in for the rest of my life, I would, in a heartbeat, choose one of the beautiful Greek islands. I greatly enjoy the Mediterranean diet, and most of my quick healthy recipes have that Mediterranean flair in them, just like my Mediterranean Chickpea Rice Salad, Spinach Orzo Salad with Feta, or Mediterranean Oven Roasted Branzini with Vegetables.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Rice is a staple ingredient in Mediterranean cuisine, contributing to the nutrition and flavors of various dishes. This versatile grain adds a delightful texture and offers several nutritional benefits.
- Rice is primarily composed of carbohydrates, making it an excellent energy source for the body. Moreover, it contains minimal fat and no cholesterol, making it a heart-healthy choice.
- It contains B vitamins such as thiamin (B1), riboflavin (B2), niacin (B3), and folate (B9). These vitamins boost metabolism, support brain function, promote healthy skin, and aid red blood cell production. It is also a significant source of minerals like magnesium, manganese, selenium, phosphorus, and iron. These nutrients contribute to bone strength.
- For individuals following gluten-free diets or those with gluten intolerance or celiac disease, rice is an ideal alternative to wheat.
Ingredients You'll Need in this Mediterranean Rice Recipe
- Long grain white rice: you can use long grain brown rice as it is better for your health, but you'll have to adjust the cooking time due to their different nutritional content and texture. Always refer to the package instructions or adjust cooking times based on your experience with your specific equipment (whether you are cooking the rice in an instant pot, rice cooker, or in a regular medium-sized pot). This recipe is optimized for cooking in a traditional medium-sized pot. I once used arborio rice, and my personal experience is that I like it better with long-grain rice or white basmati rice (or brown basmati rice).
- Extra virgin olive oil: I wouldn't advise using different oil as olive oil is a staple in Mediterranean cuisine. But if you insist, the vegetable oil will do ok here.
- White onion: you can also use red onion if preferred.
- Garlic cloves
- Dried oregano
- Dried thyme
- Ground cumin
- Zest of one lemon
- Freshly squeezed lemon juice
- Water: I typically use water since vegetable broth (or chicken stock) has excess sodium. But you can use them instead of water if you prefer.
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Optional toppings:
- Feta cheese crumbles
- Chopped Kalamata olives
- Freshly chopped parsley
How to Prepare this Delicious Mediterranean Rice
- Step 1: Rinse the rice under cold water until the water runs clear. This helps remove excess starch for fluffy rice. In a saucepan over medium heat, add the olive oil.
- Step 2: sauté the onions until they become translucent. Add in the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
- Step 3: Stir in the dried oregano, thyme, cumin, salt, and pepper. Allow these warm spices to infuse the oil for about a minute while stirring constantly.
- Step 4: Add lemon zest.
- Step 5: Add rinsed rice and stir well to coat each grain with the aromatic mixture. Toasting the rice with spices helps enhance its flavor even more.
- Step 6: Pour in water (vegetable or chicken broth, if preferred) and lemon juice. Bring everything to a boil before reducing to low heat. Cover the saucepan and let it simmer for about 20 minutes or until the rice is tender and has absorbed all the liquid.
Top Tip
Once cooked, fluff up the rice with a fork and let it sit for 2-3 minutes. Add optional toppings like feta cheese crumbles for a tangy kick, chopped Kalamata olives for a salty touch, or fresh parsley.
Frequently Asked Questions
When incorporating rice into the Mediterranean diet, opt for whole-grain varieties like brown rice or wild rice, which offer more nutrients and fiber than refined white rice.
An excellent seasoning to enhance the flavors of Mediterranean rice is a combination of herbs and spices commonly used in Mediterranean cuisine. Here are some popular options: oregano - an essential herb in Mediterranean cooking- adds a distinct aroma and earthy flavor to the rice; thyme complements the other Mediterranean herbs well with its subtle and earthy flavor; cumin brings warmth and depth of flavor to the dish; lemon - zest or a squeeze of fresh lemon juice can brighten up the rice and add a refreshing citrusy note.
Related
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Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with this Mediterranean rice recipe:
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📖 Recipe
Mediterranean Rice Recipe
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Ingredients
Instructions
- Rinse the rice under cold water until the water runs clear. This helps remove excess starch for fluffy rice.
- In a saucepan over medium heat, add the olive oil and sauté the onions until they become translucent.
- Add in the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
- Stir in the dried oregano, thyme, cumin, lemon zest, salt, and pepper. Allow these warm spices to infuse the oil for about a minute while stirring constantly.
- Add rinsed rice and stir well to coat each grain with the aromatic mixture. Toasting the rice with spices helps enhance its flavor even more.
- Pour in water (vegetable or chicken broth, if preferred) and lemon juice. Bring everything to a boil before reducing to low heat. Cover the saucepan and let it simmer for about 20 minutes or until the rice is tender and has absorbed all the liquid.
- Once cooked, fluff up the rice with a fork and let it sit for 2-3 minutes. Add optional toppings like feta cheese crumbles for a tangy kick, chopped Kalamata olives for a salty touch, or fresh parsley.
Notes
- Long grain white rice - you can use long grain brown rice as it is better for your health, but you'll have to adjust the cooking time due to their different nutritional content and texture. Always refer to the package instructions or adjust cooking times based on your experience with your specific equipment (whether you are cooking the rice in an instant pot, rice cooker, or in a regular medium-sized pot). This recipe is optimized for cooking in a traditional medium-sized pot. I once used arborio rice, and my personal experience is that I like it better with long-grain rice or white basmati rice (or brown basmati rice).
- Olive oil - I wouldn't advise using different oil as olive oil is a staple in Mediterranean cuisine. But if you insist, the vegetable oil will do ok here.
- Water - I typically use water as vegetable broth (or chicken stock) has excess sodium. But you can use them instead of water if you prefer.
My kids love rice, and this recipe is one of the easiest ways to cook it. I make it frequently, and every time, my daughter says that it is the best rice I've ever made 😀.
Paired this lovely, fragrant rice dish with seared salmon steaks and garlicky greens tonight. This was absolute heaven! Will definitely include this recipe in my Med diet rotation. Recipe was super easy to follow, used basmati rice, cooked quicker than I thought, was done in less than 15 mins. Yum! 😋
Thanks, Rachel! I'm glad you enjoyed it!